How do I keep going when life gets in the way?

© 2002 Scott "Q" Marcus, THINspirational Speaker

If I was to offer any advice to you here, it would be to stay away from the "perfection trap." What I'm reading in your email is that you start out with a wonderful goal and then "life happens." You aren't able to exercise or walk to do what you need to do so you feel you're "off" the program now. Since you're "off," why bother to do do any of it? And then, you kind of let things go.

The reason we have a weight problem is NOT because we eat too much. Let me explain that. Everyone in this country eats too much at times. We are a country of abundance. We are very fortunate. While half the world goes to bed hungry, we stuff ourselves. EVERYONE in this country eats too much sometimes. So, the question becomes HOW do some people lose or maintain in a country with so much food?

It's the reaction. Someone who's "thin" eats too much. Someone who's thin gets hurt. Someone who's thin has to deal with set backs too. The difference is she considers it an obstacle. I consider it a wall.

When someone who's thin eats too much, she says, "Wow, that tasted good. But I ate too much of that. I guess I have to cut back." And she does. I say, "Wow, that tasted good. But boy, I blew it. Well, as long as I blew it... I might as well really blow it!" And then, what would have been a bag of chips becomes a bag of chips, a box of cookies, a pound of cheese, a quart of ice cream, a package of hot dogs, a jar of peanut butter. See, it would have been only a pound or so, but because I considered myself "off" and not "delayed," I went a little crazy.

The key is to NOT look at the program with a black and white mentality. Look at it like a dimmer switch, not a light switch. When you can't (or don't) do everything you can to lose weight, look at it as "dimming." Say to yourself, "well, my results won't be as bright as they were, but there's still a light." You are "on" program by being 51% on, not 100%! Find a way when you feel overwhelmed to do 1% more than you're doing, NOT all of it. Just do a little more.

Also, set small goals, Don't try and do it all. Reward yourself for every 5 pounds, not every 50.

(If you'd like to see how a 150 pound loser did what she did, go here. If you'd like to order a copy of my cassette or CD about my weight loss story, go here.)

 For comments and questions: ScottQ@THINspiration.com

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